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plan or no plan at all. When the going gets tough, put your bike on a bus, train or plane bound for the next appealing destination.

Experience and equipment are helpful but by no means required. Karl Creelman, the first Canadian to ride around the world, only learned to ride a bicycle a few weeks before making his decision to circle the globe in 1899. His bags were slim. He had one change of clothes. His wallet was empty.

By cooking for yourself, providing your own transport and sleeping in a tent, your daily budget can easily be half of what a typical backpacker might spend to travel the same route. On the other hand, it’s easy to burn through cash if you want to spend your days jumping from café to restaurant and your nights in comfortable hotels.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

Read more about Vélib’ public bicycle sharing system in Paris and fill in the gaps with statements 1–5 below the text.

The initiative was proposed by Paris mayor Bertrand Delanoë. Launched in 2007, the system has expanded to encompass over 20,000 bicycles and 1,202 bicycle stations … . Since December 2011, Vélib’ has been complemented by an electric car sharing scheme operating on similar principles, dubbed Autolib’. Each Vélib’ station is equipped with an automatic rental terminal and has stands for dozens of bicycles. Maps … are available at all kiosks. In order to use the system, users need to take out a subscription which … . Subscriptions can be purchased at €1.70 per day, €8 per week or €29 per year. With a subscription, bike rental is free for the first half an hour of every individual trip; an unlimited number of such free trips can be made per day. A trip that … incurs a charge of €1 to €4 for each subsequent 30-minute period. The increasing price scale is intended to keep the bikes in circulation. Credit card or debit card with PIN is required to sign up for the program and to rent the bikes. The credit/debit card will be charged €150 if a rented bike is not returned. …, the Vélib’ scheme was extended to 1.5 km from Paris boundaries.

1)allows the subscriber an unlimited number of rentals

2)located across Paris and in some surrounding municipalities

3)Due to continuing high demand

4)showing the locations of the city's Vélib’ stations

5)lasts longer than 30 minutes

1. Heinz Stücke is the holder of consecutive world records in the Guinness Book of World Records for world travel by bicycle. Read the text and say what problems Heinz Stücke has had while bicycling. Then, search the internet to find out if Heinz Stücke is still bicycling.

On the 4th of November 1962, Heinz Stucke pedalled out of his hometown Hovelhof in Germany to begin a bicycle journey that has yet to reach its end. When he set forth, the Beatles hadn’t hit the charts and John F. Kennedy was in the White House. At an age when most people are comfortably enjoying retirement, Heinz is still hitting the road, camping wild and discovering some of the remotest parts of the planet. A positive attitude is essential when you are

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freewheeling around the world on pennies per day. Stucke has been shot at in Zambia, stung by bees in Gambia, singed by volcanoes in Central America, arrested at pistol point in Cameroon, and involved in accidents in Alaska, Iran, Chile and Guatemala. Yet, Stucke says the worst pests of the world, after mosquitoes and sand fleas, are bureaucracies and their bizarre border regulations. He says you swerve around government barriers like any ruts in the road. In years of non-stop touring, he has covered 593,625 kilometers cycling through 257 countries. And still the tour continues. Stucke scoffs both at the critics who cannot see the purpose of his pedalling and the admirers who romanticize it. This is a cyclist who is not ready to quit until he has seen it all. He says, “There is no end to my rolling wheels! I just do what I do. Why not? It is up to individuals to achieve their own objectives. I got into this and don’t want to stop. What would I do if I did stop? This is my reason for existence. I cannot stop. It’s the unknown around the corner that turns my wheel.”

2. Match the words and word combinations on the left with their equivalents on the right.

3. Holland is the land of tulips, wooden shoes and windmills! In addition, it is a cyclist’s paradise because of its flat terrain, mild weather and safe bike paths. Distances are short and travellers are offered a great variety of beautiful landscapes and historical towns. Read and translate the advertisement of the bicycle tour in Holland.

Country of Tulips Tour

Picture yourself gliding past swaying daffodils, fragrant hyacinths and tulips of every size and hue. Our 7- day guided tour explores the western part of Holland at the height of tulip season and covers the most famous bulb-growing areas in the Netherlands. It’s an easy tour on flat terrain, along well-paved bike paths, charming canals and through picturesque 17th century towns. You’ll have plenty of time to savour the many delights Holland offers. We’ll spend two nights in Noordwijk on the North Sea, close to the blooming fields of crocuses, narcissus, hyacinths and tulips, two nights in Delft, one of Holland’s oldest and most beautiful towns and two nights near the windmills and lakes in Noorden, in the ‘Green Heart’ of Holland.

Included: daily lodging in 4-star hotels, 6 breakfasts and 4 dinners, entrance to the Keukenhof Park

Tour Price: $2095 Single Supplement: $450 Bike Rental: $150 Tandem Rental: $200

4. In the advertisement in exercise 3, they mention the Keukenhof Park or the Garden of Europe the world’s largest flower garden situated near Lisse, the Netherlands. According to the official website for the Keukenhof Park, approximately 7,000,000 flower bulbs are planted annually in

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the park, which covers an area of 32 hectares. Search the Internet and make a report on the Keukenhof Park.

5. Country of Tulips Tour in exercise 3 was advertised by Van Gogh Tour, a family-owned and operated company that has been conducting European bicycling and walking vacations for over eighteen years. Visit their site http://www.vangoghtours.com/holland.html and select a tour you like best. Then, create an advertising brochure to promote the tour you have chosen.

Read and translate the poem ‘From a Railway Carriage’ by Robert Louis Stevenson. What do you think the pounding rhythm of the poem reflects? Now, read the poem aloud as expressively as possible.

Faster than fairies, faster than witches, bridges and houses, hedges and ditches; and charging along like troops in a battle,

all through the meadows, the horses and cattle; all of the sights of the hill and the plain

fly as quickly as driving rain;

and ever again, in the wink of an eye, painted stations whistle by.

Here is a child who clambers and scrambles, all by himself and gathering brambles, here is a tramp who stands and gazes;

and there’s the green for stringing the daisies! Here is a cart run away in the road,

lumping along with man and load; and here is a mill and there’s a river; each a glimpse and gone for ever!

KEY WORDS TO REMEMBER

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8. Types of Accommodation

1.Match the pictures with the different types of accommodation.

1)motor home

2)campsite

3)chalet

4) country house

5)farmhouse

6)bed and breakfast

7)hostel

8)hotel

9)motel

10)boatel

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2.Answer the following questions.

1)Which of the types of accommodation in exercise 1 are romantic, convenient, expensive, cheap?

2)Which of these types of accommodation do you have in your country/city?

3.Match the words on the left with their definitions on the right.

4. Divide the types of accommodation in exercise 1 into urban/rural, budget/expensive and serviced/self-catering. Note that some types will fit into either category.

self-catering serviced

Read the text and give different ways of categorizing hotels.

A hotel is a temporary home for people who are travelling. In a hotel, the traveller can rest and have access to food and drink. There are a lot of hotel classifications, but the most popular is the ‘star’ one.

One star hotels are likely to be small and independently owned, with a family atmosphere. There may be a limited range of facilities and meals may be fairly plain. Some bedrooms may not have an en-suite bath or shower rooms. Maintenance, cleanliness and comfort should, however, always be of an acceptable standard.

Two star hotels will typically be from small to medium size and offer more extensive facilities than at the one star level. Some business hotels come into the two star classification and

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guests can expect comfortable, well equipped accommodation, usually with an en-suite bathroom.

Three star hotels are usually of a size to support higher staffing levels, and a significantly greater quality and range of facilities than at the lower star classifications. Reception and other public rooms will be more spacious. All bedrooms will have en-suite bathrooms and offer a good standard of comfort and equipment, such as a hair dryer, direct dial telephone.

Four star hotels include a degree of luxury as well as quality in the furnishings, decor and equipment in every area of the hotel. Bedrooms usually offer more space than at the lower star levels as well as designed, coordinated furnishings and decor. En-suite bathrooms will have both a bath and a fixed shower. There will be a high enough ratio of staff to guests to provide services like porterage, 24-hour room service, laundry and dry-cleaning. The restaurant will demonstrate a serious approach to its cuisine.

Five star hotels have spacious and luxurious accommodation, matching the best international standards. Interior design should impress with its quality, comfort and elegance. Furnishings should be immaculate. Services should be formal, well supervised and flawless in attention to guests’ needs, without being intrusive. The restaurant will demonstrate a high level of technical skill, producing dishes to the highest international standards. Staff will be knowledgeable, helpful in all aspects of customer care, combining efficiency with courtesy.

As hotels do not serve the same clientele, it is possible to place them into other categories. Conference centres and commercial hotels are designed for business clientele. They have banquet facilities that can serve and accommodate large parties, and also offer equipment and

acoustics suitable for speakers and visual presentations.

Resort hotels may feature amenities that will permit their clientele to relax and have fun. Popular amenities may include: spas, pools, beach or mountain locations, on-site kids’ activities, restaurants, pool bars and babysitting services.

Economy hotels provide limited amenities at reasonable rates. Sometimes, economy hotels provide guests with a complimentary continental breakfast. Economy hotels in resort areas may be in a slightly less desirable location. Economy hotels offer basic room accommodations and many do not have full service on-site restaurants.

Airport hotels are designed to have clean rooms and are booked because of their close proximity to the airport. Often, they offer shuttles to and from the airport. Many airport hotels offer business amenities and restaurants for guests.

Casino hotels are unique because they provide preferential service to gamblers. Guests who spend enough time or money at the casinos can receive complimentary rooms and dining. Casino hotels are often luxurious and offer full service restaurants, indoor shopping, pools and fitness facilities. These hotels offer plenty of night life including shows, dance clubs and animators.

PRACTICE

1.Answer the following questions.

1)What is a hotel? What does it provide for a traveller?

2)What system for rating hotels is widely used?

3)What can clients expect while staying at a four star hotel?

4)Which features are typical for the staff at a five star hotel?

5)How can hotels be classified according to the clientele they serve?

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6)What are some of the amenities that a resort may offer? Give your examples.

7)In which hotels can clients be provided with amenities at reasonable rates?

2.Find English equivalents of the following:

временное место пребывания; ограниченное количество услуг; ванная, смежная со спальней; предоставлять услуги прачечной и химчистки; безупречное обслуживание; размещать большие группы людей; ресторан полного обслуживания на территории отеля; большой поток постояльцев; бесплатные номера.

3. What would the differences be between a three star hotel and a five star hotel? Consider the things given below.

1. Board basis means the sort of dining arrangements that you have selected for your holiday. It is classified into different categories. Look at the diagram and match the six categories with the descriptions below.

Self Catering (SC)

Room Only (RO)

Bed and Breakfast

(BB)

Board basis

Half Board (HB)

All Inclusive (AI)

Full Board (FB)

1)breakfast and evening meal are included in the price you have paid for your accommodation/holiday package

2)no meals are included in the price you have paid for your accommodation/holiday package

3)all meals and locally produced drinks are included in the price you have paid for your accommodation/holiday package

4)breakfast is included in the price you have paid for your accommodation/holiday package

5)breakfast, lunch and evening meals are included in the price you have paid for your accommodation/holiday package

6)no meals are included in the price of your accommodation/holiday package, but you are provided with catering facilities in your accommodation to cook light meals

2.A hotel room means comfort, privacy, security and convenience to its occupants. Hotel rooms are classified by the number of beds in them, the size and the amenities that they offer, and their rates vary accordingly. There are three basic hotel room categories: the standard room (single, double, twin), family room (triple), and the suite. Match the categories of the hotel rooms on the left with their descriptions on the right.

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SECTION 2

1.In pairs, discuss the following questions.

1)What do people want from a hotel? A good bed? A comfortable room? A modern building? Make a list of five things you would expect in a good hotel.

2)Which are the most important hotel services and facilities in a hotel for families with children, a hotel for business people, a holiday complex on the coast, a small hotel in the countryside?

2.Match the icons with the facilities and services below.

Read the descriptions of three famous hotels. Which hotel is the most attractive to you?

Paris Marriott Hotel Champs-Elysées *****

The Hotel has 192 rooms, which cost €499-599 per night depending on types of rooms and current season. Marriott Hotel Champs-Elysées is located on the famous avenue, 700 metres from the Arc de Triomphe. George V Metro Station is a 5-minute walk away providing direct access to Paris’ sights, including Le Louvre and Le Marais Jewish quarter. The River Seine and Elysées Palace are just 10 minutes away.

All of the air-conditioned rooms at Paris Marriott are contemporary in style and offer an LCD satellite TV. Each has a minibar, an en-suite bathroom and a safety deposit box. The hotel offers non-smoking rooms and rooms for disabled guests. At the reception you can reserve different hotel facilities, such as business and fitness centre, sauna, dry cleaning, shoe shining and private paid parking.

The hotel has an outdoor café, and Le Restaurant serves French cuisine. Guests can relax with a cocktail in the Atrium Bar, offering snacks all day long.

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Hyatt Place Miami***

The Hotel has 124 rooms, which cost $152 per night depending on types of rooms and current season. Providing free shuttle service to Miami International Airport, this hotel offers easy access to area attractions, including the Zoo and Miami International Mall which can be found a short distance from the Hyatt Place in Miami. The hotel can also arrange shuttle service to the Port of Miami and other points of interest.

Spacious guestrooms at the Hyatt Place Miami are furnished with all the latest technologies, including flat-screen TVs, free wireless internet and MP3 compatible radios. Guests can also enjoy large work desks and mini-refrigerators. The Hotel offers various activities, such as a fitness centre, a golf course (within 3 km), and an outdoor swimming pool.

The Miami Hyatt Place features a large variety of on-site dining options, including a 24-hour kitchen serving made-to-order dishes. The Gallery Cafe features Starbucks coffee drinks along with snacks, sandwiches and more.

Novotel St. Petersburg Centre ****

The Hotel has 233 rooms, which cost from 5500 to 8950 roubles per night depending on the types of rooms. Novotel St. Petersburg Centre is within a 3-minute walk of Nevsky Prospekt and Mayakovskaya Metro Station. Many shops can be reached on foot from the Novotel St. Petersburg. The metro allows easy access to St. Petersburg’s attractions, including the Hermitage, the Russian Museum and the Mariinsky Theatre.

The interiors of Novotel St. Petersburg Centre are contemporary and attractive. In-room comforts include satellite TV, minibars and air conditioning. It offers a fitness centre, varied cuisine, rooms with facilities for disabled guests, order room service and free private parking. After a long day, guests can relax in the Novotel’s Turkish steam bath, or can book a massage. Russian and Mediterranean food is served in the Cote Jardin restaurant with a summer terrace. Cocktails are served in the lounge bar, and home-made cakes are available from La Brioche Deli-Counter.

COMPREHENSION CHECK

1. Put a tick next to the right hotel.

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